Yesterday I said that I was disappointed that the rain that started in the middle of the night didn’t continue past noon. I was disappointed about that yesterday, although not as disappointed as I was around 11:30pm when I realized that DAVE IS LATE FOR EVERYTHING and I’d wasted the expensive eyeliner because I wouldn’t actually be driving to a bar in Webster, Land of Bored Cops only to drink for like an hour and then drive back home. People, I don’t go out much, but when I make the decision to leave the house, I really appreciate it when you follow through with plans and don’t get distracted by a hundred other things just because you’re used to sleeping until sometime after 5:30am every day and can therefore stay out later without feeling like you’re going to die.

GOD.

(I should mention that Dave has apologized, but even he knows that I will drag this out for approximately forever. So there.)

Anyway, now it’s almost 90 degrees but with only 32% humidity (I got the Weather Channel app today, heee!), so I’ve had the windows open since this morning and am no longer upset about the rain. It would still be nice to read through a dreary weekend, but airing out the house after living with the windows closed for three months wins. It’s not that we’re smelly people, but the odors of cooking and dust and everything my broken vacuum hasn’t been able to clean just gets unbearable after awhile. Even if I can’t smell it, I know it’s there.

Speaking of things that smell (and knowing they’re there), every now and then I get an e-mail, Facebook message, or tweet from someone who is alerting me that someone is talking shit about me on the Internet. Usually this happens as a result of a review I’ve written or something I’ve put on Twitter, although occasionally someone will link one of these blog posts on a message board or forum, seemingly for the purpose of letting the vultures circle. I don’t go looking for this kind of thing on my own but will absolutely look if someone else leads the way. I mean, obviously.

Most of the disagreements about stuff I’ve written are disagreements about my opinions. Because, um, some people seem unclear on the concept, but reviewing things and Twitter and my personal blog are all pretty much about my opinions, and anybody with two eyes and an undamaged brain knows I’ve never claimed to be a journalist. It’s always baffled me how some people can read those opinions and take deep personal offense to them, as if my opinion differing from theirs – which I do not know and have never asked about because I don’t have to – is tantamount to an attack on their person. And these comments are never terrifically original or clever; in fact, they’re all so much alike that each one is kind of a textbook example of someone who a) doesn’t like the fact that I get published by a legit source and they don’t, b) is angry that I didn’t like something they apparently consider a religion, and c) alleges that any differing opinion is invalid or unworthy of credit, even though they’re the ones who acknowledged it in the first place.

To quote a recent comment referencing an opening act I found uninteresting, I am “Another self-absorbed clown with a blog calling herself a music reviewer,” one whose “ignorance is apparent” because the publishing of my opinion (which was obviously different from his) meant that I “spewpure rubbish and called it a ‘review’.”

Heh. Cool.

It’s worth noting that while I do look at this kind of thing when it’s brought to my attention, I don’t contribute to the “conversation.” For one, nothing I say will make a difference to these kinds of commenters, and for two, it’s tacky to get into arguments with the psychologically unstable. Third, I prefer discourse and most of the people who don’t like me on the Internet aren’t as into discourse as they are into throwing their poop like a bunch of deranged howler monkeys. Fourth, you can talk shit about me all you want, but you’re still driving views. Bet that really burns your ass.

Fifth, and perhaps most awesomely, I usually find that someone else – sometimes multiple someone elses! – have already come to my defense. Which they don’t need to do, but it’s nice to see and the people commenting on my behalf are always more articulate, reasonable, and have a greater sense of humor about what they read, see, and think. Their reactions are worth more to me not because they agree with my point, but because they’re able to approach an issue with a measure of “let’s not behave like a bunch of lunatics just because we’re without adult supervision.” I’d rather be supported by a few smart people than a legion of dumbasses any day of the week.

Advertisements

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About erineph

I'm Erin. I have tattoos and more than one cat. I am an office drone, a music writer, and an erstwhile bartender. I am a cook in the bedroom and a whore in the kitchen. Things I enjoy include but are not limited to zombies, burritos, Cthulhu, Kurt Vonnegut, Keith Richards, accordions, perfumery, and wearing fat pants in the privacy of my own home.